Have you ever taken a trip with children that required more than ten to twelve hours in the car? If you have, you probably decided to break the driving time up to a two day journey. Maybe, we’ll go half way and then get up the next morning and head to the destination. So, at the point the kids are getting crazy, you go online to find a random hotel in the area you find yourself in and check for availability. Great! You end up right beside the interstate where traffic and big trucks will probably keep you up all night. No worries. This is one night. Just temporary. The kids, however, find the very large indoor pool. No matter how hard you try, you cannot keep kids out of a pool. They begin having a blast and chanting that they don’t want to leave this place. They love it here. They don’t want to be in the car anymore. This place is great. You remind them that the final destination is amazing. You’ve got all of these plans for them when you get there. They will love it. They still plead for their pursuit of staying at the interstate hotel and just swim. They have absolutely no idea what awaits them five hours ahead. They’re willing to settle because they’re comfortable. Sound familiar?

“For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland.” (‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭43‬:‭19‬ ‭NLT)‬‬ The Lord is always on the move. His character never changes but His plans for His children are always going different directions. He is not okay to leave you and I the way we are. There’s too many “bad habits” we need to lay down. There’s too many people He wants us to meet. There’s so much more that needs to take place for us to look more like Jesus. This all sounds good, right? So here’s the question. Are we willing to comply with the changes that are necessary for the better end result? This is a hard question. Most of the time, we don’t like change. We want the results but we don’t want to be inconvenienced. Take exercise for instance. Everyone wants to be lean and toned. Good health has so many benefits. But how many know that when that alarm clock goes off extra early for you to fit your new exercise regimen in, it’s very easy to turn that thing off? It’s actually more comfortable in your warm bed. Right? So we make the choice. Do we get up and chip away at the unhealthy habits or do we take that extra hour of sleep and proclaim that we’ll start tomorrow?

Spiritual growth works the same way physical growth works. You have to be willing to strengthen those spiritual muscles. Any good relationship requires work. It involves time. If something is important to you, you will find a way to prioritize it. Spending time with The Lord really is essential for spiritual growth. He has special things just for you that He wants to show and teach you. He has plans for you that can only be accomplished after He prepares you for it. Sometimes you wonder why you can’t seem to “blank”. Maybe it’s because God knows that if He allows that right now, you’re not spiritually ready. It could be a disaster instead of a blessing. Good results follow good discipline. 

We have to make decisions when it comes to our life. Are we happy and content with the status quo or do we want the best God has for us? “The path of life leads upward for the wise; they leave the grave behind.” (‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭15‬:‭24‬ ‭NLT‬‬) God is extending an invitation to you to come up higher. His ways are higher than ours but He wants to teach us His ways. They are different than the world’s ways. It is certainly an adventure when you step out and accept the Lord’s invitation. You have to decide whether to stay or go (grow).

Today’s writer is Brandi Crowe. A hairdresser for over 25 years, she is currently the owner of Brandi Crowe salon in Buford, GA. She loves hiking, a good cup of coffee, and spending time with family and friends. Brandi lives in a custom farmhouse with her husband Robby and cat Harold.